3 ms·

It is plausible. Dick was known to consume large amounts of amphetamines, and amphetamine use significantly increases the risk of stroke. "He clearly descende

It is plausible. Dick was known to consume large amounts of amphetamines, and amphetamine use significantly increases the risk of stroke. "He clearly descended into abuse after his fourth wife left him in the early 1970s. Afterward, according to Kyle Arnold’s biography, he was taking speed by the handful. “He stuffed his refrigerator with thousand-pill jars of amphetamines” and “told his mother he consumed a thousand-pill jar per week.”" https://www.thefix.com/philip-k-dick-s-high-life https://www.thefix.com/philip-k-dick-s-high-life "Conclusion Increases in stimulant drug abuse may increase the rate of hospital admissions for strokes and stroke-related mortality." https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/210017 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/...

anoncoward111 8y ago
More than plausible, I'd say that's probable. It reminds me of how the cause of death for Adrian Lamo is officially "undetermined", but the medical examiner notes serum potassium and creatinine levels that are so high (in my informed opinion) that they probably can only be described as "kidney failure" or "lethal injection".
newnewpdro 8y ago
Plenty of people die of strokes in their 50s without involving drug use. It's not like he was a model of good health in general. Judging from his complaint of failing eyesight the day prior to his death [1], it sounds like a common embolism. Considering Atherosclerosis is the number one cause of death in the developed world [2], it's not like we need to search for a likely cause. I'd argue that it's likely he was going to die around this age wether he used drugs or not, but the drug use gave him a more pleasurable experience throughout his years. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_K._Dick#Death https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_K._Dick#Death [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atherosclerosis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atherosclerosis

anoncoward111 8y ago

More than plausible, I'd say that's probable. It reminds me of how the cause of death for Adrian Lamo is officially "undetermined", but the medical examiner notes serum potassium and creatinine levels that are so high (in my informed opinion) that they probably can only be described as "kidney failure" or "lethal injection".

newnewpdro 8y ago

Plenty of people die of strokes in their 50s without involving drug use. It's not like he was a model of good health in general. Judging from his complaint of failing eyesight the day prior to his death [1], it sounds like a common embolism. Considering Atherosclerosis is the number one cause of death in the developed world [2], it's not like we need to search for a likely cause. I'd argue that it's likely he was going to die around this age wether he used drugs or not, but the drug use gave him a more pleasurable experience throughout his years. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_K._Dick#Death https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_K._Dick#Death [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atherosclerosis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atherosclerosis